Checkride-ready
See how you measure up to FAA standards with questions from the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
1. What conditions are necessary for the formation of thunderstorms?
A.High humidity, lifting force, and unstable conditions.
B. High humidity, high temperature, and cumulus clouds.
C. Lifting force, moist air, and extensive cloud cover.
2. How far will an airplane travel in 7.5 minutes with a groundspeed of 114 knots?
A. 14.25 nautical miles.
B. 15.00 nautical miles.
C. 14.50 nautical miles.
3. Absence of the sky condition and visibility on an automatic terminal information service (ATIS) broadcast indicates that
A. weather conditions are at or above VFR minimums.
B. the sky condition is clear and visibility unrestricted.
C. the ceiling is above 5,000 feet and visibility is more than five miles.
4. An above-glideslope indication from a tri-color VASI is
A. a green light signal.
B. a white light signal.
C. an amber light signal.
5. When activated, an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) transmits on
A. 123.0 and 119.0 MHz.
B. 118.0 and 118.8 MHz.
C. 121.5 and 243.0 MHz.
Ace
Can you correctly answer these questions from Barry Schiff?
6. A pilot makes a forced landing in the boondocks, and the aircraft has been destroyed. He knows that parts of the wreckage can be used to enhance his likelihood of survival until rescued. How can he make best use of the tires?
7. Marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions are forecast when the ceiling is expected to be between _______ and _______ feet, and visibility is expected to be between _______ and _______ statute miles.
8. What is the difference between an auxiliary fuel pump and a fuel boost pump?
9. True or false? Aerobatic maneuvers may not be conducted in aircraft that are not certified in the aerobatic category.
10. Dangerous altimeter errors occur when flying in air that is substantially colder than standard. The magnitude of such an in-flight error most depends on the
A. density altitude.
B. indicated altitude.to beginning of morning twilight.
C. true altitude.D. altitude above the station providing the local altimeter setting.
Test Pilot Answers
1. The correct answer is A. Sufficient water vapor, an initial lifting force, and an unstable lapse rate are the three main ingredients necessary for the formation of thunderstorms. While these three combined will not always produce a thunderstorm, no thunderstorm will form without them. (Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 11)
2. The correct answer is A. At 114 knots, the airplane is traveling at 1.9 nautical miles per minute (114/60). In 7.5 minutes, the airplane would have traveled 14.25 nm (1.9 × 7.5).
3. The correct answer is C. ATIS is the continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information, including the most recently observed weather conditions, in high activity terminal areas. The ceiling/sky condition and visibility may be omitted from the broadcast if the ceiling is above 5,000 feet and the visibility is more than five miles. (Aeronautical
Information Manual 4-1-13)
4. The correct answer is C. A tri-color VASI signals amber to show above glidepath, green to show on glidepath, and red to show below glidepath. There is no white light with this VASI. (Aeronautical Information Manual figure 2-1-6)
5. The correct answer is C. The two VHF emergency frequencies are 121.5 and, exactly double that, 243.0. Some ELTs also transmit on 406 MHz. (Aeronautical Information Manual 6-2-4)
6. Burning tires generate a substantial amount of black smoke, which increases the likelihood of being located by search-and-rescue personnel.
7. 1,000 and 3,000 feet, and three and five statute miles.
8. Although the terms are frequently misused and interchanged, an “aux” pump is used for starting, for takeoff, in case of engine-driven pump failure, and to pressurize fuel to the engine pump to prevent vapor lock at altitude. A boost pump is in a fuel tank and provides pressure to the main pump.
9. False. Limited aerobatic maneuvers often are permitted when operating some Normal-category airplanes in the utility category and when the pilot complies with the limitations published in the pilot’s operating handbook.
10. The correct answer is D. That portion of the error that might otherwise exist because of the height of the station above sea level is accounted for in the altimeter setting for that station. This is why the altimeter indicates field elevation upon landing (irrespective of airport elevation and nonstandard lapse rates).
Illustrations by Hal Mayforth
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